A Lovers’ Quarrel Ends in a Devastating Fire

The fire at the Happy Land nightclub in the Bronx, New York, was one of the city’s most tragic disasters. The 1990 blaze was deliberately started by a man who had argued with his girlfriend.

According to CBS News, the fire broke out in the early hours of Wednesday, 25 March 1990, shortly after 3 am local time.

The fire was started deliberately by a man named Julio Gonzalez. Gonzalez had argued with his girlfriend, Lydia Feliciano, who worked as a ticket attendant at the club, and was subsequently ejected by security staff.

After being removed, Gonzalez went to a nearby petrol station. He returned to the club with a container of petrol, poured it over the main staircase and set it alight.

The fire on the main staircase quickly cut off the only escape route for the people inside the dance floor.

Those trying to flee became trapped and crowded into a corner near the dance floor. Most of the victims died from asphyxiation or burns.

It later emerged that the Happy Land club had been operating illegally after the city government ordered it to close for violating building and fire-safety regulations. The club had no emergency exits and only one staircase for entry and exit.

In 1991, Julio Gonzalez was found guilty of 87 counts of murder and 87 counts of arson. He was sentenced to 25 years to life for each count.

The tragedy became New York City’s deadliest fire since the 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist factory fire, which killed 146 people.